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Indian Defense Minister Signs Major Logistics Agreement With Pentagon

cerberus

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PENTAGON —

The U.S. and India have signed a key logistics agreement that will enable U.S. and Indian forces to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter told reporters Monday at the Pentagon that he and Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar formally signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) earlier in the day. The two defense leaders had agreed on the memorandum "in principle" when they last met in India in April.

Carter said the agreement is "fully mutual" and makes joint operations easier and more efficient.
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Both defense leaders stressed that the agreement did not allow each nation to set up bases on the other, but to use bases and equipment only for "operating together when we choose to."

"It doesn't have anything to do with the setting up of bases," Parrikar added. "It's basically logistics support."

During Parrikar's visit to the Pentagon, the two defense leaders discussed India's recent designation as a major U.S. defense partner.

The designation was announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June visit to Washington, and Carter said it allows the United States military to cooperate with India's military "in a way that we do only with our closest and most long-standing allies."

Monday’s talks at the Pentagon, the sixth meeting between the two defense chiefs, comes ahead of key annual exercises in India between U.S. and Indian forces.

The joint drills, dubbed Yudh Abhyas, will take place in the mountains of northern India next month, Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza, who commands the Army's I Corps on the U.S. Pacific coast, told VOA.

Speaking to VOA from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Lanza said the two armies will focus on a variety of tasks, from peacekeeping operations to combined arms maneuvers and tactical training. The two armies also will swap-out troops within formations.

“Not only are we just training together … we’re completely integrated both with the Indian army and our Army working together down at platoon level,” Lanza told VOA.

http://www.voanews.com/a/indian-defense-minister-visits-pentagon/3485114.html

@PARIKRAMA @MilSpec
@Nilgiri @Abingdonboy
 
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Whats the point in buying F 16,atleast F18s one can understand,but F16s is beyond me.

Cross Posting:

So Why buy F-16s when you could buy RAFALE for the same ~$100 million

There are multiple reasons

1) Numbers game :- India needs to replace/induct 400+ fighters in the next 3-5 years. This is almost impossible to achieve with a single fighter program. SU-30MKI, RAFALE, F-16, PAK-FA & Tejas programs running in parallel could achieve that desired goal.

2) Maintain Strategic relations with US: US is pushing India's case in NSG, MTCR, AG, WA groups and India would pay back with Defense deals in return.

3) 4th generation Alternatives: Why not go for F-18s? F-18s do not have a follow-on program while F-16s have F-35s. F-16s manufacturing lines would be repurposed as F-35 lines like SU-30MKI lines would be repurposed for FGFA.

4)Why not go for the 5th gen aircrafts which are on the horizon: India already has plans to procure both PAK-FAs / FGFAs and F-35s . FGFAs would not be available until 2025 while F-35s would not be available until 2030

5) Why go for a 30 year old aircraft: India is still flying aircrafts from the 1960s. That says it all.

6) Wouldn't PAF has advantage over IAF as they have been operating F-16 for 3 decades now: PAF uses F-16s as their front line fighters while India would use F-16s as assisting the frontline Super Sukhois & PAK-FAs

7) Any other advantages: F-16s under MII would bring in jobs, build skilled workforce, bring in engine and fighter assembly tech to India.

Source: https://defence.pk/threads/lockheed-martin-offers-f-16-block-70-for-india-from-india-exported-to-the-world.443136/page-19#ixzz4IlkjXHDn
 
Then brace yourself for the F-16 deal by NOV-2016.

F 16 was the first aircraft to get rejected, Lockheeed is trying to reoffer..

Only when the offer is something Parrikar cannot refuse, he will agree.

Which I doubt ..

Let's see what we get after LEMOA
 
F 16 was the first aircraft to get rejected, Lockheeed is trying to reoffer..

Only when the offer is something Parrikar cannot refuse, he will agree.

Which I doubt ..

Let's see what we get after LEMOA

Think NSG
 
NSG can repaid in other avenues as well, not just F16

more Apaches, chinooks, C130 , P8I, M777
Drones may take time..

When parrikar asked Lockheeed to reoffer, NSG did exist.

Last time when US got India the NSG waiver, India promised $10 billion defense deals. It was assumed to be MMRCA deal but it turned out to be the list of deals that you mentioned in your post.

This time US is keen on F-16 deal as this the only opportunity for bringing India into a fighter deal which will pave way for CISMOA & BECA agreements now and F-35 program later.

If India does not buy F-16s now, India would never buy a US fighter.
 
"Use each other's bases" - this does not mean NATO bases. India didn't sign a logistics cooperation agreement with NATO, just the US.

India doesn't suddenly have access to Incirlik, despite a large US presence. It didn't negotiate with NATO.

ae1d285bd7b9c4d2d3ee7b1a1cfa4b52.jpg


Also, access to overseas US bases is subject to both US and domestic approval, so this doesn't grant you 100% access to those either, such as Atsugi or Kadena in Japan.

Atsugi_air_base_%282352837131%29.jpg


Kadena_Air_Base_20100526.jpg


Or Naval Station Rota in Spain.

Spanish_carrier_Dedalo_at_Naval_Station_Rota_1976.JPEG


You will still need to negotiate with the host nation, not just the US. With the US itself there are still restrictions on the use and access to certain US bases.

Groom lake will be restricted.

groom_lake_GROOMOVERVIEW.jpg


You will have access to logistics and basing capabilities in others like Norfolk or Pearl Harbor or Andersen AFB.
 
"Use each other's bases" - this does not mean NATO bases. India didn't sign a logistics cooperation agreement with NATO, just the US.

India doesn't suddenly have access to Incirlik, despite a large US presence. It didn't negotiate with NATO.

ae1d285bd7b9c4d2d3ee7b1a1cfa4b52.jpg


Also, access to overseas US bases is subject to both US and domestic approval, so this doesn't grant you 100% access to those either, such as Atsugi or Kadena in Japan.

Atsugi_air_base_%282352837131%29.jpg


Kadena_Air_Base_20100526.jpg


Or Naval Station Rota in Spain.

Spanish_carrier_Dedalo_at_Naval_Station_Rota_1976.JPEG


You will still need to negotiate with the host nation, not just the US. With the US itself there are still restrictions on the use and access to certain US bases.

Groom lake will be restricted.

groom_lake_GROOMOVERVIEW.jpg


You will have access to logistics and basing capabilities in others like Norfolk or Pearl Harbor or Andersen AFB.
It's just paperwork agreement for India as USA can use Indian bases against Pak or china in case of war in near future
 

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